Power bucket machine



Dec. 13, 1960 c. J; PRANGE POWER BUCKET MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Original Filed Oct. 1, 1957 w mm Q mm Ev u) aw aw i 5 m N Q \I/ m H N eE W M Q Kw w w Q? w A mm v o E k m H z H V C Y m 9w mm B 3 N. I I km w m1h f fln E Q w mm #M Dec. 13, 1960 v C. J. PRANGE POWER BUCKET MACHINEI5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed 001;. 1, 1957 INVENTOR. CHHRLES .7.FRHNGE A TTOEWEY United States Patent POWER BUCKET MACHINE Charles J.Prange, Lima, Ohio, assignor to Flexible Sewertool Corporation, Lima,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original No. 2,892,557, dated June 30, 1959,Ser. No. 687,536, Oct. 1, 1957. Application for reissue Apr. 25, 1960,Ser. No. 24,636.

14 Claims. or. 214-103 Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in theoriginal patent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matterprinted in italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

This invention relates to sewer cleaning machines of the drag buckettype wherein portable derricks are set adjajacent consecutive manholesin a sewer line to be cleaned, and wherein a drag bucket is introducedinto the sewer line through one of the manholes, is advanced into andthen drawn back through the section of the sewer line between themanholes with a dredging action, is then hoisted through the manholethrough which it was introduced, and is then dumped. The general objectof this invention is to provide, in the hoist which operates at themanhole through which the filled bucket emerges, mechanism for elevatingthe bucket to a height above the upper level of a dump truck, thenconveying it horizontally to a position above the truck, and thendumping it.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a mechanism which,instead of opening the clam shell lips of the bucket as in the moreconventional drag bucket dumping apparatus as disclosed in the pendingapplication of Peter L. Ciaccio, S.N. 565,562, filed February 15, 1956,now Patent No. 2,846,101 for Drag Bucket Dumping Hoist, is operative toinvert the bucket at the dumping position and to discharge its contentsthrough the constantly open filling end of the bucket.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent in the ensuingspecification and appended drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a bucket dumping hoist embodyingthe invention, with parts broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a rear end elevational view of the same.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown therein, as anexample of one form in which the invention may be embodied, a dragbucket hoist adapted to hoist a drag bucket from a sewer through amanhole disposed generally at the position indicated by the letter M inFig. 1, to elevate the bucket as indicated by arrow 11 to the positionin which the bucket is shown in full lines in Fig. 1, to then convey thebucket in a generally horizontal direction, inclined somewhat upwardly,as indicated by arrow 12, to approximately the position in which thebucket is shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 at 10' and, at this position,to tilt the bucket to a completely inverted position indicated at 10,for discharging its contents into a truck.

The drag bucket 10 may be of the conventional type embodying clam shelllips 14 (which are normally closed together to constitute a bottom asshown) to retain the load of material in the filled bucket while it isbeing conveyed out of the sewer line and dumped. Alternatively, thebucket 10 can be a simple container with a fixed bot tom and open at itsopposite end. In either event, it is to be understood that the hoist ofthe present invention is operated at the manhole of entry (through whichthe bucket is inserted into and withdrawn from the sewer line) and thata more conventional hoist (such as that shown in the above identifiedpatent application) may be utilized in cooperation with the hoist of thepresent invention, being positioned at a distant manhole and operativeto draw the bucket, closed end first, into the sewer line and to aposition where filling operation is to be commenced. When the bucket hasthus been positioned for the start of a filling operation, with its openforward end facing toward the hoist illustrated herein, this hoist isoperated to first draw the bucket through the sewer line, filling thebucket by a dredging action, to then move the bucket around a guidepulley at the manhole of entry, and to then hoist the bucket throughthat manhole with its open end upward until it arrives at a [the]position approximately corresponding tathe position indicated at 10 inFig. 1 of the drawings hereof, but'suspended in a vertical position froman overhead cable [shown at 10 in Fig. 1]. Reference may be made to theabove mentioned patent application or the trade literature of FlexibleManufacturing Company illustrating conventional sewer cleaning systemsof this type, for more complete information regarding the conventionalportions of the system referred to above, in which the hoist of thisinvention constitutes an improvement.

Referring again to the drawings, my improved hoist embodies a frame orderrick structure including a pair of laterally spaced pillars 16 at theend thereof which is positioned adjacent the manhole, a pair oflaterally spaced uprights 17 near the dumping end of the hoist, a pairof laterally spaced longitudinal sills 18 extending between and joiningthe lower ends of pillars 16 and uprights 17, a pair of laterally spacedheader bars 19 extending between and joining the upper ends of pillars16 and uprights 17, a pair of laterally spaced diagonal braces 20extending between and secured to the sills 18 and header bars 19 in amanner to brace the respective side sections of the frame structureagainst longitudinal shifting of the upper portion thereof with respectto the lower portion, and suitable cross braces such as the spacer bars21,22 and 23 extending transversely between and joining the header bars19 near their forward ends, the sills 18 near their rear ends, and thebraces 20 respectively. The forward ends of sills 18 are joined byconverging portions 24 thereof, bent inwardly from points just forwardlyof the lower ends of uprights 17 and secured together by a bow plate 25integrally joining the forward ends thereof. A hitch tongue 26 isattached to bow plate 25 for hitching the hoist to a tractor fortransporting the hoist.

The hoist embodies conveyor means for guiding the bucket 10 in itselevated horizontal path 12, such conveyor means comprising a pair ofguide rollers 27 and 28 journalled on respective shafts 29 and 30 at therespective rear and forward ends of the frame structure. Shaft 29 ismounted in the upper ends of pillars 16 and shaft 30 is mounted in theforward ends of header bars 19 projecting forwardly of uprights 17 toprovide a pair of crane arms 31 adapted to overhang the rear end of adump truck body. Rollers 27 and 28 are of conoidal pulley form, eachhaving a waist section of minimum diameter and opposed conic endportions flaring to maximum diameter at their ends and providing opposedbearing surfaces between which the drag bucket 10 is cradled in themedian longitudinal vertical plane of the apparatus as it passes aroundthe rollers.

The conveyor means for guiding the bucket 10 in its path 12 furtherincludes, between [Between] the rollers I 27 and 28, a pair ofdownwardly converging guide plates 32 extend longitudinally of theframe, generally in the common plane of header bar 19, althoughprojecting therebelow to some extent at their rear ends as indicated inFig. 1. The upper, outer edges of plates 32 are attached (as by welding)to header bars 19 along the upper flanges of the latter and the lower,inner edges of plates 32 are supported upon and suitably secured (as bywelding) to the spacer bars 21 and 23. Plates 32 cooperatively provide afixed guide trough which supports the bucket for sliding movement alongpath 12 between rollers 27 and 28.

The lower inner edges of guide plates 32 are laterally separated toprovide a longitudinally extending slot 33 for reception of the hoistingcable 34 and the draw bar 35 of the hoisting clevis 36 by means of whichthe hoisting cable is attached to the bucket. The slot 33 functionsfurther as a discharge space for clearing the guide trough of anyforeign material that may spill from the bucket while travelling in path12.

The hoist embodies a conventional Winch drum 37 upon which the cable 34is wound in order to elfect the hoisting of the bucket 10. The cable 34extends from the clevis 36 around the reduced central waist of roller28, functioning as a pulley, and thence back to the upper side of drum37 as shown in Fig. 1. Drum 37 is mounted on a supporting shaft 38,which in turn is suitably mounted in the frame by brackets which areomitted from the drawing for clarity. Drum 37 is driven from a motor 39mounted upon sills 18, a belt drive including pulleys 40 and 41 attachedto the motor drive shaft and to a countershaft 42 respectively, and abelt 43 travelling over the pulleys 40 and 41 and adapted to shift froma slack, non-driving condition to a tightened, driving condition throughoperation of a belt tightener unit 44 bearing against the lower stretchof the belt and embodying an actuator lever 45. A spur pinion 46,secured to power shaft 42 or to pulley 41, transmits the drive frompulley 41 through a bull gear 47 to the drum 37 (e.g. through shaft 38)in accordance with conventional drive mechanism as utilized in thehoists of the earlier apparatus identified above.

When the bucket reaches the pulley 28, it moves into engagement with acradle indicated generally at 48, by means of which the bucket is guidedin tilting to its inverted position at 10 and is restrained from movingbeyond that position. Cradle 48 comprises a pair of laterally spacedrails 49 mounted upon the end of roller shaft 30 through suitablebearings .50, and joined by a cross bar 51 at their lower ends. Thecradle further includes a pair of fingers 52 .of triangular form,comprised of transverse bars secured to the rails 49 and ex tendingdiagonally toward one another in substantial alignment with the flaringcontour of the respective ends of roller 28, clearing the conical facesof the roller in ad acent relation thereto, together with longitudinalbars secured to the inner ends of these diagonal bars and to the crossbar 51 in laterally spaced relation to one another to provide a slot 53for reception of the hoisting cable 34. V V

The cradle 48 is normally maintained yieldingly in the downwardly andforwardly inclined position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, by operationof a pair of coil springs 54 connected in tension between the arms 31rearwardly of the fulcrum axis of shaft 30 and the upper end portions ofrails 49 projecting above shaft 30, whereby the pull of the spring 54acts in a clockwise direction in the tilting movement of the cradle.

The space between the rails 49 above the fingers 52 is unobstructed sothat the bucket 10, as it is drawn along the path 12 into engagementwith roller 28, may be projected between the rails 4-9 and may then tiltaround the roller 28 until the side of the bucket comes to rest againstthe fingers 52 in the position 10' of Fig. l. The bucket is then bridgedbetween the fingers 52 and the roller 28 (its open forward end supportedby lingers 52 and its rear end supported by roller 28) and in furtheroperation of the hoist, will tilt downwardly to the position 10" of Fig.l, tilting the cradle 48 to the position 48' shown in broken lines inFig. 1. Fig. 1, in the fullsline showing of the cradle 48 shows theframe in section in a vertical plane normal to the axis of roller 28,cutting through the narrowed central waist portion of the roller andlying in the space between fingers 52, the remote finger being seen, andthe near portion of the frame 48 being broken away.

The movement of cradle 48 is limited at the two positions shown in- Fig.l, by engagement with respectitve extremities of stop lugs 55 projectinglaterally from the forward ends of arms .31. Thus the cradle 48 will benormally held by springs 54 in its receiving position shown in Fig. land downward tilting movement will be limited at the dumping position48' in which the bucket is substanttially vertical [from] for maximumefiiciency in discharging its contents into the truck body.

To avoid straining or possibly damaging the cradle structure when itslimit position 48' is reached, the invention preferably provides anautomatic declutching connection between the cradle and the belttightener lever 45, Such connection may consist simply in a tension link(e.g. cable or rod) 56' secured to the upper end of. one of the rails 49and secured to the lever '45 in a relation such that as the cradle 48approaches its lower limit position 48, the slack in cable 56 (or anyequiva lent lost motion connection between the link 56 and either thecradle 48 or the lever 45 in the event a stiff rod is utilized) will betaken up and the final movement of cradle 48 will actuate. the tightener44 to loosen the belt 43 and thereby interrupt the transmission of powerfrom motor 39 to winch drum 37.

The frame structure may include feet '57 for solidly supporting theframe on a pavement surface for the op eration of the hoist. It may alsoinclude suitable trans port dollies (not shown since they may be thesame as are conventionally employed in hoists of this general class)which may be lowered into contact with the pavement or ground, raisingthe feet 57 from the ground and allowing the hoist to be transported asa trailer when hitched to a tractor through the tongue 26.

Briefly reviewing the operation of the apparatus, the bucket 10, havingbeen filled by dredging action in a sewer, will be hoisted out of thesewer through a manhole at the position M by winding the cable 34 uponthe drum 37, the end portion of the cable 34 adjacent the bucket 10extending upwardly [downward y] around roller 27 and bearing against thereduced central waist portion thereof, functioning as a pulley. As thebucket emerges from the manhole, it will be elevated along the path 11until it contacts the roller 27, whereupon it will be tilted through theposition shown in full lines at 10 in Fig. 1 and to a position where itrests upon the guides 32 with its longitudinal axis parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the guides. It will then be dragged horizontallyand upwardly along path 12, sliding against guides 32 until it contactsroller 28, the open end portion of the bucket projecting between thespaced upper portions of rails 49 of cradle 48. Further movement of thecable will cause the bucket to tilt around roller 28, its open endtilting downwardly until it rests against fingers 52, whereupon thecradle 48 will be tilted downwardly to its limit position 48, in whichposition the bucket will have reached its full dumping position 10".During the movement around the pulley 28 and the downward tilting of thebucket, the contents will be discharged into the body of a truck whichhas been backed beneath the dumping end of the hoist including arms 31,pulley 28 and cradle 48. When the downward limit position is reached,the operator may actuate lever 45 to interrupt the transmission of poweror may stop the motor 39 if he chooses. In [in] the event he does notoperate the apparatus to stop further movement of the bucket, the winch37 will be automatically declutched from the motor 39 by the actuationof the belt tightener 2.4- through link 56, thus arresting thetransmission of power to the cable.

I; will .be apparent that, .by interrupting the transmission of power tothe winch drum 37 at a time when the cradle 48 is in the depressedposition 48', the pull of the cable 34 against the lower end 0 cradle48, applied through the bucket bail 36, will be relaxed so as to renderthe springs 57 operative to draw the cradle upwardly to its full lineposition shown in Fig. 1, until it is orrested by the stop 55, and thatby re-applying the power to the winch drum 37, the cradle 48 will againbe pulled down to the depressed position 48. This operation may beutilized for shaking the bucket to dislodge its contents. This alternateapplication of power and arresting of power can be executed by manualmanipulation of the control lever 45.

When the bucket has been cleared of its contents, the lever 45 can bemoved to release the drum 37 for unreeling movement in response to pullapplied to the section of cable attached to the nose of the bucket andextending downwardly into the sewer, thereby returning the bucket fromroller 28 to roller 27 thence around roller 27 and downwardly into thesewer for another loading operation.

I claim:

l. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having a receivingend to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a discharge end to bedisposed above a dump truck for dumping a drag bucket thereinto, meansat the top of said frame providing bucket-guiding and supportingconveyor means extending from end to end of said frame; a pair of guiderollers rotatably mounted in the respective ends of the frame and eachhaving flaring end portions spaced apart at least the width of saidbucket, for rolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passingthereover, one of said guide rollers having a central waist portionfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucketcarrying cable thereoverand being disposed at said receiving end in a position to receive abucket being vertically elevated from a manhole adjacent said receivingend while suspended on a vertical stretch of the cable guided by saidcentral waist portion, and the other roller being disposed at saiddischarge end in a position to receive a bucket travelling along saidconveyor means; and a cradle pivoted to said discharge end of the framesubstantially at the axis of rotation of said other roller, adapted toreceive said bucket while the rear end of the bucket is supported bysaid other roller, and cooperating with said other roller to guide thebucket in a downwardly tilting movement of its forward end for dumpingthe bucket.

2. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having a receivingend to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a discharge end to bedisposed at a suitable distance from such manhole for dumping thecontents of a drag bucket; upwardly and laterally flaring bucket-guidingand supporting guide plates extending from end to end of said framealong the top thereof; a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted in therespective ends of the frame and each having a central waist portionfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereoverand flaring end portions spaced apart at least the width of the bucketfor rolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passing thereover, oneof said guide rollers being disposed at said receiving end in a positionto receive a bucket being vertically elevated from a manhole adjacentsaid receiving end while suspended on a vertical stretch of the cableguided by said central waist portion, and the other roller beingdisposed at said discharge end in a position to receive a bucket slidingalong said guide plates; and a cradle pivoted to said discharge end ofthe frame substantially at the axis of rotation of said other rolleradapted to receive the forward end of said bucket while the rear end ofthe bucket is supported by said other roller, and to guide the bucket indownwardly tilting movement around the axis of said other roller to adumping position.

3. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, cornprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having an elevatedreceiving end to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a higher dischargeend to be dis posed at a suitable distance from such manhole and above adump truck for dumping a drag bucket thereinto; means providing abucket-guiding and supporting conveyor extending from end to end of saidframe along the top thereof; a pair of guide rollers rotatably mountedin the respective ends of the frame and each having laterally spaced endportions for rolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passingthereover, each of said guide rollers having a central waist portionfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereover,one of said rollers being disposed at said receiving end in a positionto receive a bucket being elevated from a manhole adjacent saidreceiving end and the other roller being disposed at said discharge endin a position to receive a bucket travelling along said conveyor and tosupport the bucket in a downwardly tilting movement of its forward endfor dumping the bucket; and a cradle pivoted to said discharge end ofthe frame substantially at the axis of rotation of said other roller andproviding laterally spaced bucket engaging fingers adapted to receivethe forward end of said bucket while the rear end of the bucket issupported by said other roller, and to guide the bucket in downwardlytilting movement to a dumping position; and means for limiting saiddownwardly tilting movement of said cradle to determine an optimumdumping position.

4. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having a receivingend to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a discharge end to bedisposed at a suitable distance from such manhole for dumping thecontents of a drag bucket, means at the top of said frame providing abucket-guiding and supporting conveyor extending from end to end of saidframe inclined upwardly from said receiving end to said discharge end,and projecting beyond said discharge end for overhanging a dump truck;and a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted in the respective ends ofthe frame and each having end portions embodying frusto conical bearingsurfaces spaced axially substantially the Width of the bucket forrolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passing thereover, and eachhaving a central waist portion functioning as a pulley for travel of abucket-carrying cable thereover, one of said pulleys being disposed atsaid receiving end in a position to receive a bucket being verticallyelevated from a manhole adjacent said receiving end while suspended on avertical stretch of the cable guided by said central waist portion, andthe other roller being disposed at said discharge end in a position toreceive a bucket travelling along said conveyor; and a cradle pivoted tosaid discharge end of the frame substantially at the axis of rotation ofsaid other roller, adapted to receive said bucket while the rear end ofthe bucket is supported by said other roller, and cooperating with saidother roller to guide the bucket in a downwardly tilting movement of itsforward end for dumping the bucket.

5. A hoist as defined in claim [7] 4, [wherein said cradle is adapted toreceive the forward end of said bucket and to guide the same indownwardly tilting movement to a dumping position while the rear end ofthe bucket is supported by said other roller;] said hoist furtherincluding means for limiting said downwardly tilting movement of saidcradle to determine an optimum dumping position.

6. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a drag bucket; a cable for hoisting the same; a derrickframe having an elevated receiving end to be positioned adjacent amanhole and a higher discharge end to be disposed at a suitable distancefrom such manhole for dumping the contents of the drag bucket; means atthe top of said frame providing a bucket-guiding and supporting conveyorextending from side to side of said frame; a pair of guide rollersrotatably mounted on transverse axes in the respective ends of the frameand each having a narrowed central waist portion functioning as a pulleyfor travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereover and radially enlargedaxially spaced end portions for rolling, cradling support of a guidebucket passing thereover, one of said guide rollers being disposed atsaid receiving end in a position to receive a bucket being verticallyelevated from a manhole adjacent said receiving end While suspended on avertical stretch of the cable guided by said central Waist portion, andthe other roller being disposed at said discharge end in a position toreceive a bucket moving along said conveyor and to support the bucket ina downwardly tilting movement of its forward end for dumping the bucket;a Winch including a drum for winding up said cable and a prime mover forrotating said drum, said drum being located beneath said conveyorbetween the sides of the frame and said cable extending from said oneroller to said other roller and thence downwardly around said otherroller and in a return direction to said drum and a cradle pivoted tosaid discharge end of the frame substantially at the axis of rotation ofsaid other roller and adapted to receive the forward end of said bucketand to guide the same in downwardly tilting movement to a dumpingposition while the rear end of the bucket is supported by said otherroller; a clutch for transmitting drive from said power plant to saiddrum; and means interconnecting said cradle and clutch to interrupt saiddrive when said bucket reaches a dumping position, whereby to limit thedownward tilting of said cradle.

7. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having a receivingend to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a discharge end to bedisposed above a dump truck for dumping a drag bucket thereinto, meansat the top of said frame providing bucket-guiding and supportingconveyor means extending from end to end of said frame; a pair of guiderollers rotatably mounted in the respective ends of the frame and eachhaving flaring end portions spaced apart at least the width of saidbucket, for rolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passingthereover, one of said guide rollers having a central waist portionfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereoverand being disposed at said receiving end in a position to receive abucket being vertically elevated from a manhole adjacent said receivingend while suspended on a vertical stretch of the cable guided by saidcentral waist portion, and the other roller being disposed at saiddischarge end in a position to receive a bucket travelling along saidconveyor means, and to provide a fulcrum around which said bucket cantilt downwardly to a dumping position; a cradle pivoted to saiddischarge end of the frame, said cradle including a bucket supportingportion having a normal position extending generally downwardly fromsaid other roller and adopted to receive said bucket as it is tilteddownwardly around said other roller; and resilient means acting betweensaid cradle and said frame and loading said cradle for upward movementto said normal position from a position depressed below the some, saidresilient means yielding to the pull of the cable applied through thebucket to the lower portion of said cradle to move the cradle and bucketdownwardly from said normal position to said depressed position.

8. A machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said forward end of theframe is provided with stop means against which said cradle, in saidnormal position, will engage to restrain movement of the cradle abovesaid normal position.

9. A machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said bucket supportingportion of the cradle comprises a pair of side arms having meansproviding said pivotal connection with the frame, a cross bar extendingtransversely between and joining the lower ends of sdid side arms, and

a pair of intermediate longitudinal members secured to said cross barand extending upwardly therefrom substantially in the plane of said sidearms in positions adjacent but spaced laterally from the longitudinalmedian axis of said cradle and terminating just short of said otherroller.

10. A machine as defined in claim 7, wherein said bucket supportingportion of the cradle comprises a pair of side arms having meansproviding said pivotal connection with the frame, a cross bar extendingtransversely between and joining the lower ends of said side arms, and apair of intermediate longitudinal members secured to said cross bar andextending upwardly therefrom substantially in the plane of said sidearms in positions adjacent but spaced laterally from the longitudinalmedian axis of said cradle and terminating just short of said otherroller; and bucket supporting portion of the cradle, in said normalposition, being disposed in a plane substantially intersecting the oxisof said other roller.

11. A sewer-cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having a receivingend to be positioned adjacent a manhole and a discharge end to bedisposed above a dump truck for dumping a drag bucket thereinto, meansat the top of said frame providing bucket-guiding and supportingconveyor means extending from end to end of said frame; a pair of guiderollers rotatably mounted in the respective ends of the frame and eachhaving flaring end portions spaced apart at least the width of saidbucket, for rolling, cradling support of a guide bucket passingthereover, one of said guide rollers having a central waist portionfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereoverand being disposed at said receiving end in a position to receive abucket being vertically elevated from a manhole adjacent said receivingend while suspended on a vertical stretch of the cable guided by saidcentral waist portion, and the other roller being disposed at saiddischarge end in a position to receive a bucket travelling nlong saidconveyor means, and to provide a fulcrum around which said bucket cantilt downwardly to a dumping position; a cradle pivoted to saiddischarge end of the frame, said cradle including a bucket engagingportion having a normal position disposed in a plane substantially onthe axis of said other roller and inclined downwardly and forwardlytherefrom, said cradle being adapted, as the bucket tilts downwardlyaround said other roller, to receive said bucket while the bucket issupported by said other roller; and coil spring means acting in tensionbetween said cradle and said discharge end of the frame and loading saidcradle for upward return to said normal position from a positiondepressed therebelow, said coil spring means yelding to the pull of thecable applied through said bucket to the lower portion of said cradle topermit said cradle to move downwardly to said depressed position.

12. A sewer cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having asubstantially vertical receiving end to be positioned adjacent a manholeand a discharge end to be disposed above a dump truck for dumping thedrag bucket thereinto; means at the top of said frame providingbucket-guiding and supporting conveyor means extending from end to endof said frame and including a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted inthe respective ends of the frame at the top thereof and each havingflaring end portions spaced apart at least the width of said bucket, forrolling, cradling support of a drug bucket passing thereover, saidrollers having respective central waist portions each functioning as apulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereover, one of saidrollers being disposed in a position at the top of the receiving end ofsaid frame such that a bucket being elevated from a manhole will beguided vertically upwardly adjacent said receiving end while suspendedon a vertical stretch of the cable guided by said central waist portion,and the other roller being disposed in a position at said discharge endsuch that it will receive a bucket travelling along said conveyor meansbetween said rollers and will function to guide the bucket in adownwardly tilting movement thereof; a cradle pivoted to said dischargeend of the frame, said cradle including a bucket supporting portionhaving a normal position extending generally downwardly from said otherroller and adapted to receive said bucket as it is tilted downwardlyaround said other roller; and resilient means acting between said cradleand said frame and loading said cradle for upward movement to saidnormal position from a position depressed below the same, said resilientmeans yielding to the pull of the cable applied through the bucket tothe lower portion of said cradle to move the cradle and bucketdownwardly from said normal position to said depressed position.

13. A sewer cleaning drag bucket dumping hoist, comprising, incombination: a horizontally elongated derrick frame having asubstantially vertical receiving end to be positioned adjacent a manholeand a discharge end to be disposed above a dump truck for dumping thedrag bucket thereinto, a generally horizontal top portion and a basetherebelow; a drag bucket means at the top of said frame providingbucket-guiding and supporting conveyor means extending from end to endof said frame and including a pair of guide rollers rotatably mounted inthe respective ends of said top portion and each having flaring endportions for rolling, cradling support of said drag bucket when passingthereover, said rollers having respective central waist portions eachfunctioning as a pulley for travel of a bucket-carrying cable thereover,one of said rollers being disposed in a position at the top of thereceiving end of said frame such that a bucket being elevated from amanhole will be guided vertically upwardly adjacent said receiving endwhile suspended on a vertical stretch of the cable guided by saidcentral waist portion, and the other roller being disposed in a positionat said discharge end such that it will receive a bucket traveling alongsaid conveyor means between said rollers and will function to guide thebucket in a downwardly tilting movement thereof; a power operated winchdrum carried by said base below said top portion; a cable attached tosaid bucket and adapted to extend upwardly and around said one roller atthe receiving end of the machine, thence parallel to said conveyor meansand around the other roller and downwardly therefrom, and thence beneathsaid top portion of the frame to said winch drum and wound thereon, saidcable exerting a downward pull upon said bucket after it has tilteddownwardly around said other roller; a cradle pivoted to said dischargeend of the frame, said cradle including a bucket supporting portionhaving a normal position extending generally downwardly from said otherroller and adapted to receive said bucket as it is tilted downwardlyaround said other roller; and resilient means acting between said cradleand said frame and loading said cradle for upward movement to saidnormal position from a position depressed below the same, said resilientmeans yielding to the pull of the cable applied through the bucket tothe lower portion of said cradle to move the cradle and bucketdownwardly from said normal position to said depressed position.

14. A machine as defined in claim 13, wherein said cradle is positionedand movable so as to support said bucket in substantially tangentalignment with said roller throughout its movements between said normaland depressed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 512,988 McTurner et a1 Jan. 16, 1894 878,526 GunnFeb. 11, 1908 963,034 Connell July 5, 1910 967,733 Curtiss et a1. Aug.16, 1910 1,000,988 Burkett Aug. 22, 1911 1,415,223 Crossley May 9, 19221,933,924 Nickerson Nov. 7, 1933 2,468,542 Caldwell Apr. 26, 1949

